Pollution hit Diwali for Pink city

Jaipur, Oct 28: Diwali, 'the festival of lights', besides sparkling cheers and joy, has increased the level of air pollution in the Pink City during the past two days, Rajasthan State Pollution Prevention and Control Board said. A survey, conducted by the board on Dhanteras on Sunday, Oct 27 evening at some areas, including the busy Ajmeri Gate and Chandpol Bazaar, had detected one-and-a-half times to twice the rise in air pollution, the Board sources said.

The suspended dust particles in air at Ajmeri Gate and Chandpol Bazaar were found to be at a high mark of 328 microgramme per cubic metre and 330 microgramme per cubic metre, respectively, as against the standard permissible limit of 200 microgramme per cubic metre. The level of respiratory dust particles was also found to be higher at 132 and 117 microgramme per cubic metre against the standard limit of 100 microgramme per cubic metre.

The level of sulphides and carbon dioxide was also found to have increased, in the survey, the sources added. The level of pollution, however, on the eve of Diwali last year was higher than this year, the sources said.